Jeremy Miller, video game analyst for DFC Intelligence, says that the company expects Wii U sales to be slightly higher than the GameCube, which launched in 2001 and 2002. Miller says that the machine will appeal to the hardcore Nintendo fans, but it won’t capture the mainstream audience in the same way as the original Wii console did in 2006. He went on to say that he thinks initial sales for this generation will be better than last generation for Microsoft and Sony because of limited competition from Nintendo.

“The Wii U is more of a loyalist Nintendo system right now and is looking more like the Gamecube, but our forecasts are higher than for the GameCube. The Wii U and its lineup is very much targeted to a core Nintendo fan. In that it seems pretty successful. The problem is many people are expecting another Wii in terms of sales and we don’t see that happening. As a company Nintendo probably needs to learn to make due with a smaller but more dedicated audience.”

What do you guys (and girls) think? will the wiiu sell less than gamecube or can nintendo make a come back?

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Wii Fit U, Wii Party U, the fact that Smash and Kart are far more popular franchises now than they were a decade ago, etc.

It could easily double GameCube sales or more assuming sales explode during the holiday with 3D World and DKC.

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He went on to say that he thinks initial sales for this generation will be better than last generation for Microsoft and Sony because of limited competition from Nintendo.

Ha, as if anyone who actually plays games went Wii only that gen to begin with. Everyone had a 360, PS3, or powerful PC to play everything the rest of the industry was playing, as will be the case once again with the Wii U.

This is also an incredibly milquetoast prediction. I expect roughly 35 - 55 million lifetime.